SRINAGAR : The second batch of pilgrims undertaking the annual Amarnath Yatra left the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu on Friday morning under stringent security arrangements, with more than 3,800 devotees proceeding towards the twin base camps of Baltal and Pahalgam in Kashmir.
Officials said a total of 3,865 pilgrims departed in a convoy of 201 escorted vehicles for the two routes leading to the holy cave shrine.
Of them, 1,735 pilgrims travelled in 115 vehicles towards the Baltal base camp in Ganderbal district, while 2,130 pilgrims boarded 86 vehicles for the traditional Nunwan-Pahalgam base camp in Anantnag district.
The 57-day pilgrimage to the 3,880-metre-high Amarnath cave shrine commenced on Friday through both the 48-km traditional Pahalgam route and the 14-km Baltal route, with the yatra scheduled to conclude on August 28.
The Bhagwati Nagar base camp witnessed scenes of devotion as pilgrims raised chants of “Bam Bam Bhole”, “Har Har Mahadev” and “Jai Barfani Baba Ki” before beginning their journey. Many devotees expressed satisfaction with the arrangements put in place for the pilgrimage.
The latest convoy follows the departure of the first batch of 4,822 pilgrims, which was flagged off by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday.
With Friday’s departure, 8,687 pilgrims have left the Jammu base camp for Kashmir over the past two days.
Authorities have deployed multi-layered security along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, at transit camps and around the Bhagwati Nagar base camp to ensure the safe and smooth movement of pilgrims. Security personnel and the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) are escorting the convoys throughout the journey as part of the comprehensive security arrangements for the annual pilgrimage.
